Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File W. 24,870, Obadiah Donnell, Continential Mass. Navy

SERVICE
NUMBER
Continental
Donnell, Obadiah
No. 24,870
Mass.
Abigail
Navy
CONTENTS

( 14.249 ) R x District of Maine Obadiah Donnell
of York in the state of  Dist. of Maine who was a Marine in the navy  Ship Ranger commanded by Colonel J n Paul Jones of the U. S. Navy , for the term of one year.
Inscribed on the roll of District of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 17. of Apr. 1819
Certificate of Pension issued the 7. of Sep r 1819 and sent to Daniel Sewall York  D t of Maine
Arrears to 4th of Sep r 1819  36. 80
Semi-ann. all ce ending 4 Mar 1820  48..
10 mo 18 / 30
$84 80
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
a correct certificate sent Oct 6. 1819 W. S. [unclear]

Notification sent July 21 st 1820 to Daniel Sewall, Hennebunk Maine

Mollers
938
Abigail Cornell, widow of Obadiah Cornell, dec. who was a pensioner under the Act of 18: Mar. '18 and who died on the 29: Aug. 1826 - of York in the State of Maine who was a Private in the Company commanded by Captain [blank] of the Reg't commanded by [blank] in the Paul Jones line for 2 years
Inscribed on the Roll of Maine at the rate of 80 Dollars - Cents per annum. to commence on the 4th day of March, 1838
Certificate of Pension issued the 10 day of Nov. '38, and sent Genl A. McLean York, Me
Arrears to the 4th of Sept. - $ 200.00
Semi-annual allowance ending 40.00
$ 240.00
{ Act July 7, } 1838.
Recorded by R Burdine Clerk, Book A Vol. 1- Page 7.

Letter to Pay & A. M c Intire Mar 14. 1837.

Obadiah Donnell's claim for pension.
17 th April, 1818
District of Maine.
77 to 78 Ship Ranger I.P. Jones On rolls. Commenced
14 Admitted
seaman on board ——— Ship Ranger from Sept '77 to Oct '78.
ret d for correction of (apparently) error in the date of declar- -ation.

I Obediah Donnell of York in the County of York and Commonwealth of Massachusetts testify and say that some time in the month of May 1775 I enlisted as a private soldier into the service of the United States, in the Revolutionary war, in the Company commanded by Captain Samuel Derby in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Scammons and served till some time in December 1775 and was honourably discharged at Cambridge in the State of Massachusetts and again enlisted in the month of December 1775 at Cambridge into the Company commanded by Captain Tobias Fernald in the Regiment then commanded by Colonel Hinney, in which Company I served as a private soldier twelve months and was honourably discharged at Albany in the State of New York in the month of December 1776. on the first of January 1777.
I further testify and say that I enlisted as a marine some time in the month of September 1777 on board the United States Sloop of War Ranger, John Paul Jones Commander, at Portsmouth New Hampshire and sailed from Portsmouth some time in the month of October next following, for France, and from France we sailed on a Cruise in the English Channel, we landed at White Haven in the North of England during our said Cruise and took possession of the Fort at that place spiked the Cannon & burnt the shipping in the Dock in the Harbour afterwards landed in Scotland and went to the house of Lord Mansfield, cruised on the Irish Coast and then took the Sloop of War Drake lying in the harbour of Belfast and returned to Brest in France with our prize - From France we returned home to Portsmouth New Hampshire in the month of October 1778 where after serving about a year I was honourably discharged - We left Captain Jones in France, and Captain

Thomas Simpson came home from France as Commander of said ship Ranger.
And I further testify and say that by reason of my reduced circumstances in life I am in need of assistance from my country for support.
Obadiah Dorr
Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
York ss. On the eighth day of April, A. D. 1819,* before me Jonas Clark, Judge of the Court of Probate, within and for the county of York in the Commonwealth aforesaid, personally appeared the aforesaid Obadiah Donnell, and in my presence subscribed and made oath to the aforesaid declaration and affidavit by him made, in order to obtain the provision made by the late act of Congress entitled "An act to provide for certain persons en- gaged in the land & naval service of the United States in the revolutionary War." And it appearing to my satis- faction that the said Obadiah Donnell served for the term of more than nine months at one period of the War of the revolution on the continental establishment against the common enemy; And also that the said Obadiah Donnell is in such reduced circumstances that he needs the assistance of his country for support. I hereby certify the testimony in the case, and the proceedings had thereon, to the Secretary of the de- partment of War.
In testimony whereof, I hereunto set my hand, and have caused the seal of the said Court to be hereunto affixed, the fourteenth day of June, A. D. 1819.
Daniel Sewall, Reg d
Jonas Clark.
York ss. June 14, 1819. I Jonas Clark, Judge as aforesaid hereby certify, that it appears to me from satisfactory evidence, that all the persons whose depositions are hereunto annexed, viz t , Elijah Hall, William Stacey, Nathaniel Donnell, & Jacob Ayers, are disinterested witnesses, and entitled to full credit and belief.
* Note: The date of the declaration was 1818. thru mistake, and is now corrected to 1819. July 31. 1819. by me,
Sworn to, April 1819 Jonas Clark.
Jonas Clark.

I Elijah Hall Esq m of Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire, late Lieutenant of Ranger United States' Sloop of War, commanded by John Paul Jones Esq m , testify dispose & say, that Obadiah Donell of York in the State of Massachusetts, on or about the 1 st of October 1777 at Portsmouth, entered as ordinary Seaman on board said Sloop of War, to serve the United States in the Revolutionary War, for twelve months; that the said Donell continued to serve in said Ranger, from the said time of his entering, during her cruise to France and in the Irish Sea, & until her return to said Portsmouth, which was in the latter part of October -- 1778 soon after which he was discharged. And I will know that said Obadiah Donell served in said Sloop of War, more than nine months, without intermission.
State of New Hampshire Portsmouth to wit
Elijah Hall
On this twenty first day of April in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred & nineteen, before me Dan l Humphreys, Notary Public, by Letters Patent duly commissioned & sworn a Justice of the Peace & Quorum throughout said State, personally appeared Elijah Hall Esq m Naval Officer of this Port, and made oath in due form, to the truth of the above written Deposition by him subscribed in my presence.
In Testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my Notarial Seal in said Portsmouth the day and year last aforesaid.
Dan l Humphreys Not y Pub l & Jus t P s & Quorum

I William Stacey of York in the County of York and State of Massachusetts, testify and say that I am well acquainted with Obadiah Donnell of said York and was with him in the United States Sloop of war Ranger commanded by John Paul Jones and know that he served on board said ship from some time in September 1777 to some time in October 1778 a part of the time as a marine on board for which he enlisted and part of the time as seaman on board and that he was Captain of a Gun for some time. During this cruise we went to France, cruised in the English Channel, coast of Ireland &c. and that he served on board said ship until she returned to Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire when he was honorably discharged in the month of October 1778. William Stacey York April 17. 1819
York ss. April 17. 1819 Then the above named William Stacey made solemn oath that the foregoing Deposition by him subscribed is true before me, in addition to the above that the above document is a credible & disinterested witness. H. W. D. Justice of the Peace.

1 We Nathaniel Donnell & Jacob Ayers both of York in the County of York & State of Massachusetts, do testify & say that We are near neighbors to Obediah Donnell of said York aged sixtyfour years, and are acquainted with his circumstances in life, & we are satisfied that he needs assistance for his comfortable support & maintenance —
Nath l Donnell Jacob Ayers
Commonwealth of Massachusetts York ss. June 2 nd 1819 Personally appeared Nathaniel Donnell & Jacob Ayers above named, who are both well known to me, are disinterested witnesses & entitled to credit for truth & veracity and made oath to the truth of the above Deposition by them subscribed — Before me Jas. Bradbury Justice of the Peace —
Commonwealth of Massachusetts. York ss. I Daniel Sewall, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas, hereby certify, that Jeremiah Bradbury & Alexander M c Intire, whose signatures are affixed to the depositions hereunto annexed, are Justices of the Peace within & for said county, duly qualified to take depositions. In testimony whereof I hereto set my hand, and the seal of the said Court, the fourteenth day of June A. D. 1819. Daniel Sewall.
William Stacey's claim Jemison

Obadiah Donnell.
York
14.249
Not settled
March 1820

STATE OF MAINE.
York ss....At a Circuit Court of Common Pleas for the first Eastern Circuit, begun and holden at York within and for the County of York — on the first Tuesday of July , being the fourth — day of said month and by adjournment — from day to day, on the fifth day of July — in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty, before the Honorable Benjamin Greene, chief Justice , Judge of said Court.
ON this fifth — day of July , in the year 1820, personally appeared in open Court ,
the same proceeding according to the course of the common law, having jurisdiction unlimited in amount, keeping a record of their proceedings, and having “the power of fine and imprisonment,” and being a Court of Record for said County , Obadiah Donnell , — aged sixty nine years, resident in York — in said Circuit, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on his oath declare that he served in the Revolutionary War as follows, viz. as a seaman in the company  ship Ranger commanded by Capt. Paul Jones  in the Regiment commanded by Colonel — in the line of the State of New Hampshire , on the Continental Establishment, as is more particularly mentioned and described in his original declaration, made on the seventeenth day of April A. D. 1819, and on which said declaration his Certificate of Pension, numbered 14.249 , was granted. And I do solemnly swear that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818; and that I have not since that time by gift, sale, or in any manner disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an Act of Congress, entitled “An Act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States, in the Revolutionary War,” passed on the 18th day of March, 1818: and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property or securities, contracts, or debts due to me; nor have I any income other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed, and by me subscribed; that my occupation and ability to pursue the same, together with the number and other particulars of my family, are in fact and in truth as is particularly described on the back hereof, also subscribed by me.
Obadiah Donnell
Sworn to and declared, on the fifth } day of July , A. D. 1820. }
BEFORE
Benj a Greene, Ch. Justice { One of the Judges of the said Court.
Attt. Daniel Sewall, Clerk.

SCHEDULE of the real and personal estate, (necessary clothing and bedding excepted) belonging to me the subscriber, viz :
40 acres of poor land, being two miles from home, and part of it covered with water the greatest part of the season.
4 cows - 12 sheep - 1 swine
1 old two story house - a small barn - an old store - all very much out of repair -
Debts due to sundry persons - 400 Doll!
SCHEDULE of the family residing with me Obadiah Donnell, who, by occupation am a labourer, - which I am un able to pursue by reason of age and infirmity.
    NAMES. AGES. Capacity of each to contribute to their support.     Wife Abigail - 60  poor health,  Obadiah Donnell  Value 405. - Owes 400 -  5. -    
STATE OF MAINE.
I, Daniel Sewall Clerk of the Circuit Court of Common Pleas for said Circuit , within the county of York do hereby certify, that the foregoing oath, and the schedules thereto an- nexed, are truly copied from the Record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid schedule, is four hundred & five four hundred dollars and is in debt cents . IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of the said Court, on this seventh day of July , A. D. one thousand eight hundred and twenty.
Daniel Sewall, { Clerk of the said Circuit Court for the County of York.

1139
Me act 7 July 38 Married in 83 Died in 1826 Vol 14.74 Smo 75 adm'd 2 years pri & Marim
80 $
No deduction
e J. McIntire York Me

State of Maine } S.S.
York County }
On this sixteenth day of August Eighteen hundred and thirty eight personally appeared before William St. Maine Judge of the Court of Probate, being a Court of Record within the County of York and State of Maine.
Abigail Donnell a resident of York in the County of York and State of Maine, aged Seventy six years, who being first duly sworn according to law, doth on her oath, make the following declaration, in order to obtain the benefit of the provision made by the act of Congress passed July 7, 1838, entitled, "An act granting half pay and pensions to certain widows." That she is the widow of Obadiah Donnell late of York in the County of York and District of Maine who was a Revolutionary Pensioner in said York under the act of Congress passed March 18. 1818, for services performed in the Army and Navy of the United States in the war of the Revolution as may appear by the evidence by him produced, upon which his pension certificate was granted, which evidence may be found in the Pension Office at Washington, to which she begs leave to refer - That she has no documentary evidence in her possession to prove her claim.
She further declares that she was married to the said Obadiah Donnell on the thirty first day of July — Seventeen hundred and eighty three: That her husband the fore said Obadiah Donnell died on the twenty ninth day of August one thousand eight hundred and twenty six, that she was not married to him prior to his leaving the service,

but the marriage took place previous to the first of January Seventeen hundred and ninety-four, viz: at the time above stated.
Witness Wm. A. Hayes - Abigail for Donnell Alex. W. Martine Monks
Sworn to and subscribed the day and year above written
Before Wm. A. Hayes Judge of Probate York County Maine
I William A. Hayes the above named Judge of Probate certify that the said Abigail Donnell by reason of her great age and bodily infirmity is unable to travel or attend court
Wm. A. Hayes Judge of Probate -

I Nathaniel Donnell of York in the County of York and State of Maine, aged seventy five years depose and say; That I am well acquainted with Abigail Donnell of York in said County — That she is the widow of Obadiah Donnell late of said York deceased, who had a pension certificate, "in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818." — Said Abigail Donnell was the daughter of Captain William Grow, who lived within half a mile distance from where I now live, which was the place of my nativity, and that said Obadiah Donnell always was till his death a nearer neighbour than said Grow. That the said Abigail Donnell was the wife, and is now the widow of said Obadiah, she never having married since the death of her said husband. — Said Obadiah Donnell died about twelve years ago.
August 15. 1838.
witness
Nath l Donnell.
Delorah Donnell
Maria Donnell
State of Maine } ss. York County }
On this fifteenth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty eight, personally appeared Nathaniel Donnell (who I hereby certify is a credible person and sustains a good moral character) and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed; before me
Alex. W. Intire Justice of the Peace

I John Haven, Pastor of the first congregational Church and Parish in York in the County of York and State of Maine, do hereby certify on oath, that on the Records of said Church in my keeping, and in the well known hand writing of Rev d . Isaac Lyman who, as it appears by said records, was pastor of said Church from the year 1749 to the year 1810 and under the head or caption "Marriages consummated by Isaac Lyman," the following is recorded, "July thirty first one thousand seven hundred and eighty three, Obediah Donnell & Abigail Grow 2 d ."
which I certify is a true copy of the Record, with the exception of the date, which is expressed on the records in fair and legible figures as follows, "July 31. 1783."
John Haven Pastor of the first Church in York
I John Haven above named, depose and say, that I hold the office of Pastor of the first congregational Church in York in the County of York and State aforesaid, and that the above is a true extract from the records of said Church, with the exception above named as certified by me
John Haven Pastor of the first Church in York
State of Maine } County of York } S.S. August 14. 1838.
Sworn to before me
Ch. O. Emerson. Justice of the Peace

Rev
WIDOW, &c.
9
File No. 24870
Abigail Donnell wid of Obadiah Donnell Pri Rev War
Act July 1 st 38
Index: Vol A , Page 190
[Arrangement of 1870.]

14.249. R  District of Maine  Obadiah Donnell
of York in the state of D. of Maine  who was a  Private  in the  regiment  commanded by who was a Private  in the  regiment  commanded by Col. Paul Jones of the N. J. Vasey line, for the term of One year
Inscribed on the roll of District of Maine at the rate of 8 Dollars per month, to commence on the 17 of April 1818
Certificate of Pension issued the 7 of Sep 1819 and sent to Daniel Jewett Hennecunk D. of Maine
Arrears to 4th of Sep 1819 132.80 Semi-ann. all'ce ending Mar. 1820. 48.00 18 Mo. \frac{18}{30} $180.80
18/30 { Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. } 30 17 13 32.

Hon. James L. Edwards Esq m Commissioner of Pensions
Washington (District of Columbia)
928 Abijah D. Smith 947 Mary Phillips

938 Abigail D. D. D. D. 947 Mary D. D. D. D.
Hon. James L. Edwards Esq. Commissioner of Pensions Washington (District of Columbia)
Ms. A. 9. 2. 24. 1

York (Maine) March 9. 1839.
Hon. James L. Edwards, Commissioner of Pensions.
Sir,
James Maxell, the authorized attorney of Abigail Donnell of York who received a Pension Certificate (issued Nov. 10. 1838) presented the papers duly prepared and authenticated, to the Agent for paying Pensions in Portland, Agency of Maine on the 7 th instant, and the papers were returned with the following note indorsed; "This pension commenced, Aug t . 15. 1836, by our Roll." By the certificate the pension commences March 4. 1836. Will you give the Agent for paying pension, at Portland such instructions as will authorize him to pay the pension due?
M c Maxell also presented to the Agent a power from Mary Phillips widow of Norton Phillips dec d for the balance due the dec d from March 4. 1836 to May 8. 1836 (the time of his death) together with the Pension Certificate and the requisite certificate of clerk of a Court of Record, of the time of the decease of said Pensioner, and that Mary Phillips is his widow.
These papers were also returned, with a verbal order (as I understood it) for an application to the Pension Office at Washington. Will you please to inform me what further must be done in order that this widow may obtain the small balance due her?
Respectfully, your Ob d Servant. Alex. W. Sinture

Hon. James L. Edwards Esq n Commissioner of Pensions.

York (Maine) August 31. 1838 Hon. James L. Edwards } Commissioner of Pensions }
Sir,
Enclosed herewith are seven applications of widows for pensions under the Act of Congress of July 7. 1838, namely, Hannah Young, Elizabeth Witham, Abigail Berry, Susanna Let- tice, Mary Phillips, Mary Hutchins & Abigail Donnell and that of Dinah Prince a woman of color who claims under the Act of July 4 1836.
A discrepancy will be observed in the name of Norton Phillips. This difference I hope, is satisfac- torily explained by the deposition of Mr. Jno. Moore & Lucy Moore. if not, so, abundance of proof can be had to prove the identity of the person. I have exam- ined the record of taxes in York, as far back as 1805 and find him uniformly taxed by the name of Norton Phillips , without the "Woodbridge" attached.
I am aware that there may be a difference in the name of Witham. I do not recollect the name of Bartholomew Witham was written in his

1828 1829 Certificate, but I know that the name of
Witham has undergone two changes at least in this place, within the last 100 years.
It was first written Whittum, then Withum
but for the last 30 or 40 years it has generally been written Witham, though sometimes
pronounced Whittum.
Any communications from the Parish Office on the subject may be made to me.
Respectfully Sir, Your
Obedient Servant
Alex. McTearne

State of Maine.
York, ss.—
I, JOHN SKEELE, Register of the Court of Probate, within and for the County of York, being a Court of Record, hereby certify that
William C. Hayes is Judge of said Court of Probate and that Alexander McIntire and Charles C. Emerson are Justices of the Peace in and for said County, and that the signatures to the papers hereunto annexed and purporting to be theirs are genuine.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of said Court, this twenty eighth day of August in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty- eight .
John Skeele
} Register of Probate York County.

Obadiah Donnell.
Payable semi-annually. The first payment on this Certificate will be made on the 4th of March next, in Portland at the Cumberland Bank
Recorded

War Department.
REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM.
I CERTIFY that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818,
Obadiah Donnell late a Mariner in the Army Navy of the Revolution, is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the District of Maine Agency, at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence on the Seventeenth day of April one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
GIVEN at the War Office of the United States, this Seventh day of September one thousand eight hundred and nineteen
J. C. Calhoun
Secretary of War.

I John Stover of York in the county of York and State of Maine, aged seventy five years, depose and say, that I am a near neighbour to Abigail Donnell of said York widow, and ever have been from my birth to this time. That said Abigail Donnell was the daughter of William Grow of York, and wife of Obadiah Donnell, who received a Pension Certificate "in conformity with the law of the United States, of the 18th. March 1818."
Said Abigail Donnell is now the widow of said Obadiah Donnell, having never married since the death of her said husband; her said husband, Obadiah Donnell died about twelve years ago.
August. 15. 1838
John Stover
witness
Hannah H. Grow. Alex. McIntire
State of Maine } York County. } ss.
On this fifteenth day of August, in the year of Our Lord, One Thousand eight hundred and thirty eight personally appeared John Stover (who I hereby certify is a man of truth and veracity, and sustains a good moral character) and made solemn oath to the truth of the foregoing deposition by him subscribed. Before me
Alex. W. McIntire Justice of the Peace